Saturday, April 4, 2015

Hope Enough



Hope Enough

There is that parable that the old ones tell
of when they were hurried off in war and
Mother stopped to pack her suitcase careful
with the fruit that they could not fathom more
how she expected it to save – yet despite the pounding she had done to get the case to close – despite the crack across its side split as a departing dispute did rave –

Despite the pounding, the birdsong faith of packing this suitcase with fruit filled– there was a flicker of hope wafting in the cattle-car as the gentle decomposing fragrance spilled



18 comments:

  1. When all is lost, hope is the only refuge coupled with memories of home.

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  2. This is so beautiful... absolutely remarkable!
    xoxo

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  3. I can read many things in this...mainly i feel sorrow and loss...but i hope i hope at the end of any war comes hope

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  4. This poem took my breath away. I never expected the ending....but sadly, I sense that in this situation, the flicker of hope will dim and soon be extinguished.

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  5. This just tears at my heart, Pearl. This is my spring break week, and I have almost finished reading Leon Uris's "Exodus," the story of the birth of the modern state of Israel. Sprinkled among the chapters are several having to do with the cattle cars. I am beginning to see afresh how much the Jews have endured...and yet there is the fragrance of hope.

    Whirligig Bits and Pieces

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  6. Ah, that all important fruit of the soul must never be forgotten. Fine way to use these words, especially today. Thank you, Pearl,

    Elizabeth

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  7. Beautiful...how could we live without a glimmer of hope.

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  8. "the birdsong faith of packing this suitcase"....I see the suitcase packed for the train trip to the concentration camps. Am I right? Your title is brilliant. The entire poem is brilliant. I can see that mother, packing fruit. As it turned out, the most sensible thing to have packed.

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  9. I think I was as surprised as the children by that sudden fragrance of fruit...

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  10. there are always fruits grow else where too.

    funny rhyming.

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  11. love the imagery, full of hope.. and what's to be.

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  12. To hope enough is also to test our courage to carry it along the ways in life. I have found these both in your poem today, Pearl. Thank you for the poem. Happy Easter to you & yours!

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  13. This is breathtaking....painfully so.

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  14. This is beautiful...that flicker of hope sustains life...

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  15. Yes hope often shows up in unexpected places.

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